Names of cities and towns in India have been used to project personalities from the past, who may serve the ideological stance of the polit...
Names of cities and towns in India have been used to project personalities from the past, who may serve the ideological stance of the political party in power. This has caused conflict not just among political parties but has even distressed citizens who may have been accustomed to another name for their city or town. This political one-upmanship has extended to street names as well.
But do we see political parties actively pushing for streets and cities to be named after personalities involved in culture, science or other spheres that impact lives of common people in multiple ways? For instance, how many street names have we come across that relate to musicians?
I have yet to come across concerted efforts made by those in power to acknowledge the contribution of those not involved in politics by naming cities and streets after them. There are instances of plaques being put up in some cities to mark buildings as erstwhile residences or workspaces of important personalities or as places that housed important institutions involved in various facets of public life other than politics. But this does not seem to be a pan-Indian policy.
Over the next few weeks, this column will feature some street names...
